Ruby thinks about her "many mothers." What role do found families, and found mothers in particular, play throughout the story? How has your mother influenced the person you became?

Ruby thinks about her "many mothers," and how each played a key role in taking care of her and making her the person she became. What role do found families, and found mothers in particular, play throughout the story? How has your mother influenced the person you became?

Found mothers make new lives possible. Ruby makes it possible (even before her birth) for her found mothers to form attachments, love, and establish "families" that they did not have before Ruby. When one connects and loves, one is able to let go of bitterness, outrage and forgive.

Of course my mother had a great influence on the person I have become but I had an aunt and my two grandmothers also were very influential also. Found mother’s can be the best kind of mothers. Nature vs. nurture, which has the most influence?

I have a dear friend whose real mother could not have been less a mother and whose "found" mother could not have been a better mother. This taught me that all women can be mothers to others and truly make a difference in their lives. You never know what your actions and words will mean to other people.
My mother certainly had a wonderful influence on who I became.

I've found that I'm much closer to my "found family" than I am to my own. I have two female friends that are closer to me than I am to my biological sister, and an older woman friend who I consider my "spiritual mother," and have for many years.

My biological mother influenced me in both positive and negative ways. On the one hand, so provided me with many opportunities to explore my talents and interests; I believe this enabled me to be flexible and to always be willing to try new things. On the other hand, she never nurtured empathy in me, so I think I'm somewhat cold toward others.

Ruby was extremely lucky to have these women looking out for her the way her mother would have if she would have survived. Without them, her fate would have, most likely, been entirely different. My mother had a career and worked hard to be a good parent and she has been my role model. I have had a lot of help throughout my life from men and women that have "parented" me when I needed it, and I am very grateful.

You can never have too many mothers in your life. In today's families there are so many steps, foster, adopted and birth mothers as well as half, step, adopted, foster siblings. My relationship with my own mother was lacking but I found teachers and church members who filled the void and I turned out OK. My own family is a mix of all the above possibilities, blended with love.

Yes, since I hve only had one, she had a huge influence.